This portrait of George III was designed by John Sigismund Tanner (1705 - 1775).

1774
On March 31st this year, the British Parliament passed the Boston Port Act, which closed the port of Boston, Massachusetts as punishment for the Boston Tea Party.
On September 21st, George Mason and George Washington founded the Fairfax County Militia Association, a military unit independent of British control.

Between June and October this year, the English explorer James Cook became the first European to sight and name the Pacific Islands of Palmerston Island, New Caledonia and Norfolk Island, the latter was uninhabited at this date.